Anomaly 17
Last night I rode my bike for the duration of the movie Juno, including previews, which is at least 100 minutes. I have a computer attached to the back wheel, but I am really questioning the accuracy, as I cannot believe that I rode under ten miles in that length of time. When I ride outside for that long I do at least 15 including a five minute or so rest stop, a few stop lights, and some hills.
I know the computer is set properly as I have gauged it against my car odometer, so I am curious if having to ride in a really low gear due to the friction of the trainer would have an affect on the mileage read by the computer? I have a triple chain ring in front and ride on the smallest (first gear) in the front and one of the biggest in the back (2nd or 3rd), and sometimes go harder to emulate riding a hill, but only for a few minutes.
So is it me just riding slow or is it the computer??
Answer
Riding your normal road ride in a lower gear than you are used to would almost certainly result in a slower ride unless you spin the pedals faster to compensate, so the same thing applies on a trainer.
It is quite difficult to maintain a constant momentum for a prolonged period of time on a trainer if you are not used to it, and to approach an equivalent time/distance on a trainer to that which you do on the road it is necessary to try to replicate your road gearing, or you must pedal faster in a lower gear, speed is all about pedal revolutions whether you are on the road or on a trainer.
A 100 minute session on a trainer is much harder than 100 minutes on the road, there is no wind, no downhill sections, no short freewheeling periods, it requires 100% effort or you stop ! You would probably get more benefit from the trainer with shorter rides and a more concentrated effort, using the same gearing as you use on the road, or spinning a lower gear, (you could try counting the pedal revs you do per minute on the road, and then try and do the same revs on the trainer, obviously using the same gear as you use on the road).
If your computer is accurate on the road, there is no reason for it to be any different on a trainer, providing your bike is properly attached and making good contact with the roller, and that your tyre pressure is sufficiently hard.
Riding your normal road ride in a lower gear than you are used to would almost certainly result in a slower ride unless you spin the pedals faster to compensate, so the same thing applies on a trainer.
It is quite difficult to maintain a constant momentum for a prolonged period of time on a trainer if you are not used to it, and to approach an equivalent time/distance on a trainer to that which you do on the road it is necessary to try to replicate your road gearing, or you must pedal faster in a lower gear, speed is all about pedal revolutions whether you are on the road or on a trainer.
A 100 minute session on a trainer is much harder than 100 minutes on the road, there is no wind, no downhill sections, no short freewheeling periods, it requires 100% effort or you stop ! You would probably get more benefit from the trainer with shorter rides and a more concentrated effort, using the same gearing as you use on the road, or spinning a lower gear, (you could try counting the pedal revs you do per minute on the road, and then try and do the same revs on the trainer, obviously using the same gear as you use on the road).
If your computer is accurate on the road, there is no reason for it to be any different on a trainer, providing your bike is properly attached and making good contact with the roller, and that your tyre pressure is sufficiently hard.
Will a bike computer work on an indoor trainer?
me
I am planning on buying an indoor bicycle trainer so that i can ride my bike it my house when it is too cold out. I want to keep track of my speed and how far i am going, so figured i would get a cheap Bell one. I am just curious is it will work since it is a different set up. Thanks for your help!
Answer
It will work, but you have to install the sensor on the rear wheel, the only one that spins. The wireless computers sometimes don't get the signal from the back, so get a wired one. A cheap one will work but get one with cadence counter. That is a very important tool for your training. It will tell you cadence, current speed, average speed speed, max speed, distance for the ride, distance for the week, total distance (odo), and time. I use a cateye. since there are two sensor, one for the wheel and one for the crank, you may want to see if the shop will install it for free or a small fee. If you don't have a trainer yet, I recommend the Kinetic by Kurt fluid. It mimics going in a slight incline. I paid less than that at my local bike shop.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/essex_deluxe.htm
It will work, but you have to install the sensor on the rear wheel, the only one that spins. The wireless computers sometimes don't get the signal from the back, so get a wired one. A cheap one will work but get one with cadence counter. That is a very important tool for your training. It will tell you cadence, current speed, average speed speed, max speed, distance for the ride, distance for the week, total distance (odo), and time. I use a cateye. since there are two sensor, one for the wheel and one for the crank, you may want to see if the shop will install it for free or a small fee. If you don't have a trainer yet, I recommend the Kinetic by Kurt fluid. It mimics going in a slight incline. I paid less than that at my local bike shop.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/essex_deluxe.htm
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